Richard Bergeron, founder of Projet Montral, joins Denis Coderre's team

A year ahead of the next municipal election, Richard Bergeron, the founder of Projet Montral, has officially joined the mayor's political party,quipe Denis Coderre.

Bergeron had been sitting as an independent since 2014, when he joined Coderre's executive committee.

The mayor made the announcement following a party meeting on Sunday, calling his one-time political foea man of "big ideas."

"Clearly, I'd like to have a guy on my side like Richard Bergeron," he told reporters.

For his part, Bergeronsaid the city has made impressive strides under Coderre.

"I'm convinced that now Montreal is very well-seen internationally," he said, adding that Coderre is a "great leader."

BergeronwasProjet'smayoralcandidate in the 2005, 2009 and 2013 municipal elections.

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Coderrehas been trying to consolidate his team ahead of the Nov. 5, 2017 election.

Russell Copeman, borough mayor of Cte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grce, alsorecently joined his party.

Copeman had previously been a member of Coalition Montral, although he's been a member of Coderre's executive committee since his election in 2013.

quipeDenisCoderre now counts 32 seats on city council. Projet Montralhas 17 and Coalition Montralhas four.